Motorola Xoom 2 and Xoom 2 Media Edition to Launch in UK

While sales of the first Xoom Android 3.0 tablet failed to reach the million mark, Motorola has now announced the Xoom 2, running on Android 3.2. The tablet will be available in two different versions, with different screen sizes and marketed to different kinds of users.
 

The standard Xoom 2 adopts the same 10.1-format as the original Xoom. Its design has changed, however, as while the first Xoom had smooth, curved edges, the Xoom 2 has a more angular design with cut-off corners. The other Xoom 2, dubbed the Media Edition, has a similar angular design but is a smaller 8.2 inches in size. Both tablets therefore look very much part Motorola's new product range, with a similar appearance to the Droid Razr smartphone.
 

Both models use a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor (compared with a 1 GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 in the original Xoom) although the chip's manufacturer hasn't been disclosed. The tablets have 1 GB of RAM and IPS capacitive touchscreens. Plus, Corning's Gorilla Glass should help keep scratches, chips and smashes at bay.
 

Both models have 16 GB of memory but there's no mention of a microSD card slot. However, the 10.1-inch model does have an Ethernet port. The tablets are also apparently 'Business Ready' which no doubt points to the inclusion of database and word processing apps.

Both tablets have rear-facing 5-Megapixel cameras and 1.3-Megapixel webcams on the front. The Media Edition weighs 386 g, making it lighter than the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9, and has an advertised battery life of 6 hours. The standard 10.1-inch Xoom 2, on the other hand, weighs 599 g and is announced with a 10-hour battery life.

Motorola's Xoom 2 tablets have also adopted the stylus, which seems to be making something of a minor comeback in the tablet market. According to the product presentations we've seen, it looks like a pretty standard stylus and doesn't seem to have any revolutionary new uses. 

The Xoom 2 and Xoom 2 Media Edition are due to launch in the UK and Ireland in mid-November, with no release dates scheduled for other countries yet. Prices will start at £379.99 for the 10.1-inch model.
 

We have to admit that we're still a bit dubious about Motorola's new tablets. First of all, a lack of microSD would be pretty fatal as far as we're concerned. Plus, the Media Edition has a lower battery life and less built-in storage than most tablets coming to market these days. What's more, these Xoom 2 tablets will ship with Android 3.2, while the first Xoom, which has seen its price seriously slashed, apparently has an Android 4.0 update arriving imminently.